Abstract
A lipoid obtained from beef kidneys and having solubilities similar to those of Liebreich's “protagon,” yields, on cleavage with alcoholic hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, an ester of carnaubic acid, which separates on cooling. From this ester the free acid may be obtained by saponification with sodium ethylate and decomposing the resulting soap with a mineral acid. The free acid and its ethyl ester are freely soluble in ether and chloroform; also, in hot alcohol, benzene, acetone, ethyl acetate or acetic acid, but separate from these solvents on cooling. The acid melts at 72.4°, the ethyl ester at 50°, both uncorrected.
Analysis of the acid. It was purified by fractional precipitation with magnesium acetate. The magnesium soap was decomposed with hydrochloric acid. The acid was recrystallized from acetone:
The carnauba acid obtained from carnaubic wax has the same percentage composition and is recorded as melting at 72.5°.
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